Scottish Executive

Audiology

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many audiologists are currently employed by the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the audiologists currently employed by the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust have been trained in (a) the diagnosis of patients’ suitability for digital hearing aids, and (b) the fitting of digital hearing aids.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The latest information available from ISD Scotland shows no medical staff employed by North Glasgow University Hospitals Trust in the specialty of audiological medicine as at 30 September 2000. This is a relatively recent addition to the specialty list and it may be that staff recorded in other ways were carrying out audiological services. Local NHS management will hold information on the current position. Contact details for NHS management personnel are available on  www.show.scot.nhs.uk.

Audiology

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the equipment used by North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust to assess patients’ requirements in terms of hearing aids is suitable for carrying out assessments for suitability for digital hearing aids.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: This information is not held centrally and should be obtained from North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Audiology

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the makes and model numbers are of the nine types of digital hearing aid available to NHS patients and whether these are the most up-to-date models made by the relevant companies.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The 17 digital hearing aids, which will be available to NHSScotland on renewal of the central contract on 1 April, are as follows:

  


Code


Supplier




DIGITRIM


A & M Hearing Ltd




SELECTRA


A & M Hearing Ltd




NEWTONE 001


G N Resound




NEWTONE 002


G N Resound




D61-10


Lavis Medical Systems




D61-20


Lavis Medical Systems




D61-40


Lavis Medical Systems




D71-10 P2


Lavis Medical Systems




D71-10S P2


Lavis Medical Systems




D71-20 P2


Lavis Medical Systems




D71-40 P2


Lavis Medical Systems




D71-40S P2


Lavis Medical Systems




WIDEX BRAVO B1


P C Werth Ltd




WIDEX BRAVO B2


P C Werth Ltd




WIDEX SENSO P37


P C Werth Ltd




AERO BTE


Phonak UK




AERO BTE AZ


Phonak UK




  These aids have been selected by the Audiology Commodity Advisory Panel, which includes representatives from the audiology services, in consultation with Scottish Healthcare Supplies as the most appropriate selection to meet the range of clinical needs of patients.

Broadcasting

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government in support of the creation of a permanent place for Scotland on the body which is replacing the Independent Television Commission.

Mike Watson: The Executive has made representations designed to ensure that the new OFCOM structure has the capacity to take full account of the interests of Scottish audiences and of the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in Scotland.

Cancer

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the completion of the second phase of the replacement of the Beatson Oncology Centre with a new cancer centre at Gartnavel.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the replacement of the Beatson Oncology Centre with a new cancer centre at Gartnavel will have on on-going patient care.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the first patient to be treated at the new cancer centre at Gartnavel.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the last patient to be treated at the Beatson Oncology Centre before services are transferred to the new cancer centre at Gartnavel.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff will be employed at the new cancer centre at Gartnavel.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients will be able to be treated at the new cancer centre at Gartnavel.

Malcolm Chisholm: I approved the outline business case for the proposed new West of Scotland Cancer Centre at Gartnavel Hospital on 29 January. Detailed planning for the new centre, including the timetable for the project, services to be provided, numbers of patients capable of being treated and the workforce required to deliver services, are matters which are being taken forward by NHS Greater Glasgow and will be reflected in the full business case.

Cancer

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are currently employed at the Beatson Oncology Centre.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Staffing information below trust level is not available centrally but will be held by local NHS management. Contact details for NHS management personnel are available on: www.show.scot.nhs.uk .

Cancer

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients can currently be treated at the Beatson Oncology Centre.

Malcolm Chisholm: As with all cancer centres, the numbers of patients treated at the Beatson Oncology Centre depend on the numbers of new patients referred and the pattern and disposition of in-patient and out-patient services. Out-patient facilities are delivered both at the Beatson and at outreach clinics across the West of Scotland. Chemotherapy treatment is often delivered at local hospitals and clinics so that patients are treated as close to home as possible.

  During the year ending 30 September 2001 the following in-patient and day case episodes and out-patient attendances were recorded at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, for clinical and medical oncology. The Beatson Oncology Centre is sited within the Western Infirmary.

  

 

In-Patient Episodes1


Day Case episodes


Out-Patient Attendances




Clinical Oncology


5,234


6,476


14,238




Medical Oncology


2,265


3,794


8,965




Total


7,499


10,270


23,203




  Notes:

  1. Includes in-patient discharges and transfers out.

  2. Provisional data provided by ISD Scotland.

  3. Some of these episodes and out-patient attendances will relate to multiple treatments/attendances of individual patients.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the facilities available in council and independent care homes will be adequate to meet the needs of all elderly people assessed as being entitled to free personal care on 1 July 2002.

Hugh Henry: Local authorities are responsible for arranging the provision of care to meet the needs of their local populations. The Executive has made substantial new resources available to implement free personal care from 1 July 2002.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all elderly people requiring an assessment for eligibility to free personal care in their own homes or in a residential setting will be guaranteed an assessment before 1 July 2002.

Hugh Henry: The responsibility for the assessment of an individual’s care needs lies with local authorities. The Implementation Steering Group, set up to advise the Executive on the technical and practical issues, is working closely with local authorities and others to ensure effective implementation of free personal care from 1 July 2002.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether sufficient resources and staff will be in place in order to ensure that free personal care will be available by 1 July 2002 to all those who are eligible.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive has made £250 million available over the next two financial years to fund in full the implementation of free personal and nursing care from 1 July 2002.

Central Heating

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20998 by Iain Gray on 8 January 2002, why 43 of the 116 applications made for free central heating in the Scottish Borders area were found to be ineligible.

Iain Gray: Nineteen applicants were ineligible because they had a working central heating system and one applicant had not occupied the house for the required 12 months. The remaining 23 was made up of those who had not returned their application forms to EAGA at the time the earlier question was asked. All of those applications have now been processed and qualify for grant. Many have now received their package of measures.

Central Heating

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any penalty clauses under the terms of its contract with EAGA Partnership (Scotland) for any extreme delays in the installation of central heating for elderly people under its central heating installation programme.

Iain Gray: There are no such clauses. EAGA are required to spend the budget each year and all applications will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Crime

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources will be allocated to police forces to reduce bureaucracy in fighting crime following the announcement by the First Minister on 24 January 2002 on this issue.

Mr Jim Wallace: We have already said that we are aiming to make better use of technology and civilian staff as well as cutting paperwork. The drive to reduce bureaucracy is being taken forward on a range of fronts including, for example, the review of common police services; through the implementation of best value principles; through provisions in the forthcoming legislation and in other ways to release more police officers for front line work; and through investment in better information and communications technology.

  These measures are just part of the wide-ranging reform agenda for the police in Scotland which we are taking forward in partnership with police authorities and police associations.

Crime

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18301 by Mr Jim Wallace on 4 October 2001, how many offences there were in the Central Scotland Police force area involving the possession of knives in 2001 and how many homicides there were in the area involving the use of knives in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001.

Mr Jim Wallace: Information on recorded crime in 2001 is not yet available.

  There were no homicides involving the use of sharp instruments in Central Scotland police force area in 2000. Data for 2001 are not yet available.

Education

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children left schools in Edinburgh with no qualifications in a foreign language in each year since 1997.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the number and percentage of pupils that left publicly funded schools in the City of Edinburgh education authority in 1997-98 and 1998-99, who had not attained a Standard Grade qualification in a foreign language.

  


Year


Total number of leavers


Number of leavers not attaining a Standard 
  Grade in a foreign language




1997-98


3,388


629




1998-99


3,408


642




  Note:

  1. Data relating to 1999-2000 is not yet available.

Education

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fourth year pupils have left school before the age of 16 in each of the last five years.

Nicol Stephen: Information is not collected centrally that is sufficient to calculate the age of pupils on the date they left school. Information is, however, collected and published on the number of pupils who leave school at the minimum school leaving age and is presented in the following table. The latest information currently available relates to the 1998-99 school year.

  All School Leavers by Stage and Term of Leaving: 1994-95 to 1998-99

  


Academic Year


Number of Leavers (=100%)


S4


S5


S6


% who left at School Leaving Age




Winter


Summer


Winter


Summer




All

 
 



1994-95


61,836


0.8


23.0


10.6


21.8


43.8


30.1




1995-96


62,978


0.6


22.1


12.0


21.6


43.7


30.1




1996-97


65,988


0.6


21.3


12.9


20.8


44.4


30.7




1997-98


62,601


0.8


20.6


13.6


19.6


45.5


30.1




1998-99


62,246


0.7


20.4


12.1


19.9


47.1


28.3

Environment

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports of river pollution have been made to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency; how many such reports resulted in a prosecution, and what the verdicts and disposals were in respect of such prosecutions, in each of the past five years.

Allan Wilson: The information requested is not held centrally. Information on some successful prosecutions is published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on its website, at:

  http://www.sepa.org.uk/data/prosecutions/.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pits were dug at Lochmaben in Dumfriesshire in order to dispose of ash derived from pyres of foot-and-mouth disease-infected carcasses; how much it cost to dig and maintain each such pit, and how many such pits were used for this purpose.

Ross Finnie: No pits were constructed for the disposal of ash. All pits excavated at Birkshaw Forest, near Lochmaben, were for the disposal of carcasses arising from the slaughter of animals on premises not infected with Foot and Mouth Disease.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why ash derived from pyres of foot-and-mouth disease-infected carcasses at Lochmaben in Dumfriesshire was transported to Garlaff in East Ayrshire for disposal, given, as reported in the Sunday Mail on 3 February 2002, the provision of pits for this purpose at Lochmaben.

Ross Finnie: The pits at Birkshaw Forest were not constructed for the disposal of ash, only the disposal of animal carcasses. The ash, from animals which were not infected, was classified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as controlled waste and, as such, must be disposed of in a lined engineered landfill site licensed to take such material. Birkshaw was not licensed for this purpose, unlike the Garlaff site.

General Practitioners

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many formal patient transfers from general practitioner lists there were in each of the past three years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. On behalf of Island NHS Boards and Primary Care Trusts, the Practitioner Services Division of the Common Services Agency prepares and maintains lists of the patients for whose treatment each general practitioner is responsible.

General Practitioners

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the practice of informal patient transfers from general practitioner lists.

Malcolm Chisholm: None. Movement of patients from the patient list of a general practitioner to that of another general practitioner is governed by statutory arrangements. Patients who wish to take advantage of general medical services under the National Health Service should apply to a general practitioner for inclusion on his or her list or should apply to the local island NHS Board of Primary Care Trust for assignment.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce an implementation and monitoring plan in respect of the guidance on the administration of medicines in schools.

Nicol Stephen: The guidance on the Administration of Medicines in Schools emphasises that it is for NHS boards to ensure that appropriate agreements are in place with education authorities in relation to the administration of medicines in schools. The guidance was issued to NHS boards and education authorities approximately five months ago and the Scottish Executive plans to make enquiries on the progress that has been made at the sixth month point.

Health

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21846 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 January 2002, which elected representatives briefed the UK delegation to the EU Health Council meeting in Brussels on 15 November 2001 in relation to matters of interest to Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: Specific discussions between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive are conducted on a confidential basis.

Homelessness

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any evidence of homeless people being moved from Edinburgh to Glasgow by (a) City of Edinburgh Council or (b) the police and, if so, how many have been moved in each year since 1999 broken down by (a) and (b).

Iain Gray: A local authority may refer a homeless applicant to another authority if the applicant (a) has no local connection with the authority to whom he/she has applied, (b) has a local connection with the other authority and (c) will not be at risk of domestic violence in the other local authority area. I understand that, of the 4,410 homelessness applications received in Edinburgh in 2000-01, nine were referred to another local authority, but none were referred to Glasgow.

Hospitals

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all accident and emergency departments in the NHS are staffed to the minimum level recommended by the British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: It is for NHS boards and trusts to assess and provide for local needs and to determine staff numbers and the design of teams required for effective delivery of service outcomes. Information on staffing levels for individual departments is not available centrally but will be held by local NHS management. Contact details for NHS management are available on:

  www.show.scot.nhs.uk.

Housing

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in respect of the proposal to transfer Glasgow City Council’s housing stock to community ownership.

Mr Jack McConnell: I have agreed to a request from Glasgow City Council for them to undertake the stage 2 consultation process and ballot tenants on the transfer proposal from the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA). I have also agreed that, should the transfer proposal proceed, ministers will make available a repayable grant to the GHA of up to £30 million a year for up to 10 years.

Individual Learning Accounts

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21663 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002, how many of the 253,952 people who held Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) at 7 January 2002 have been compensated for any loss associated with the closure of the ILA scheme.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There is no provision under the terms of the Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) scheme to make compensation payments. However, closure of the scheme should not result in a loss to any ILA member. Commitments given to those who had enrolled for learning by the closure date and who had started their learning by 31 January will be honoured.

Individual Learning Accounts

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21664 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002, what advice is being given to those holding Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) who had not enrolled in learning before the end of January 2002, following the closure of the ILA scheme.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Individual Learning Account (ILA) members who had not enrolled in learning before the scheme’s closure and who had not started their learning by 31 January cannot now access ILA-discounted learning. However, any learner whose learning was booked on the ILA Centre computer system before its suspension on 23 November will still be able to access ILA funds, irrespective of the date on which they start their learning.

Individual Learning Accounts

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21665 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002, how many potential learners may be lost in each month during the interim period between the closure of the Individual Learning Accounts scheme and the launch of a replacement scheme.

Ms Wendy Alexander: It is not possible to quantify this figure on a monthly basis. In total over 215,000 Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) were opened in 2001 and over 108,000 activated. The number of learners taking up learning, with or without an ILA grant, would be expected to vary from year to year.

Judicial Appointments

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21977 by Mr Jim Wallace on 30 January 2002, which organisations and other interested parties were consulted concerning the recruitment and selection of members of the Judicial Appointments Board.

Mr Jim Wallace: The recruitment exercise is being carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. A panel, including an independent assessor is currently undertaking a selection process and in due course will provide ministers with a list of recommendations. The Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates have been consulted about professional members.

Judicial Appointments

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21977 by Mr Jim Wallace on 30 January 2002, in which publications advertisements were placed for members of the Judicial Appointments Board.

Mr Jim Wallace: The advertisement for the chair and lay members was placed in the Scotsman and the Herald . It attracted 119 firm applications. An advertisement for professional members was placed in the Scots Law Times .

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any sightseeing trips around Scotland were organised during Tony Gauci’s visits; to what locations any such trips were made, and what the cost was of each such trip.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates any visits to Scotland were made by Tony Gauci and what the cost was of facilitating any such visits.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions Tony Gauci was brought to Scotland by (a) the police or (b) the Crown Office.

Colin Boyd QC: It would be inappropriate to comment on matters relating to a witness in the Lockerbie case while the appeal is continuing.

Justice

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of the rebuilding and extension of Lanark Sheriff Court, including the cost of any temporary accommodation used during building works.

Mr Jim Wallace: Presently the proposed redevelopment is at scheme design stage and as such, the anticipated costs are under review. The costs associated with the temporary outhousing accommodation are, however, contractually committed.

  The anticipated cost of the proposed redevelopment is in the region of £3,000,000. The cost of the temporary accommodation, including fees, lease, construction costs, is estimated at £297,000.

Justice

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what new facilities will be available at the renovated Lanark Sheriff Court that were not available prior to commencement of the renovation works and who requested that any such facilities be provided.

Mr Jim Wallace: The renovated facilities will provide a courtroom to replace the courtroom currently housed in a porta-cabin at the rear of the building. It will upgrade the custody suite, improve access to the building, including disabled access, and generally upgrade the internal accommodation.

  The decision to refurbish Lanark Sheriff Court was made on an assessment of the business needs of the courthouse.

Livestock

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to what animal welfare specifications any cassettes used for the transport of livestock between Orkney, Shetland and the mainland have to be built and when and with whom any such specifications were agreed.

Ross Finnie: Such use would have to comply with the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 which states that:

  animals must be provided with adequate space for standing in their natural position;

  air must be able to circulate freely, and

  there must be sufficient space to feed and water the animals.

  The design specifications have still to be finalised.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the role and remit of the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport with regard to transport and training.

Mr Jack McConnell: Transport and training are the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning. However, Executive ministers work closely together on all areas where there are cross-cutting issues.

NHS Trusts

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the recent consultation exercise carried out by the Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust into the siting of its proposed new secure care unit.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally as it is a matter for Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust.

NHS Waiting Times

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-202901 by Malcolm Chisholm on 27 December 2001, what impact the (a) new ultrasound scanner, (b) CT scanner and (c) refurbished x-ray facilities have had on waiting times at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Malcolm Chisholm: The trust acknowledges that at present waiting times for imaging remain higher than is acceptable. However, it believes that this financial year will see significant improvements through the investment in equipment and the recruitment of additional radiographers and radiologists. In the run up to these developments having a positive and sustainable impact on waiting times, the trust has put in place additional imaging sessions in the evening at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Police

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the uniformed police (a) establishment and (b) strength was and how many police probationers there were in each police force in each year from 1991 to 2001.

Mr Jim Wallace: The available information is shown in the following table. Information on probationers is not held centrally.

  Establishment and Strength by Force

  


As at:


Central


Dumfries & Galloway


Fife



 

Establishment


Strength


Establishment


Strength


Establishment


Strength




31-3-91


638


638


361


360


780


756




31-3-92


643


645


384


385


780


790




31-3-93


650


653


384


385


780


790




31-3-94


650


658


384


386


780


791




31-3-95


652


656


384


391


780


789




31-3-96


652


657


384


390


780


790



 

Strength*




31-3-97


686


412


831




31-3-98


703


439


855




31-3-99


719


437


846




31-3-00


721


451


837




31-3-01


733


478


852




  


As at:


Grampian


Lothian & Borders


Northern



 

Establishment


Strength


Establishment


Strength


Establishment


Strength




31-3-91


1,158


1,137


2,487


2,452


631


629




31-3-92


1,178


1,161


2,489


2,534


654


653




31-3-93


1,178


1,190


2,526


2,563


654


649




31-3-94


1,178


1,193


2,522


2,558


654


658




31-3-95


1,178


1,194


2,522


2,539


654


649




31-3-96


1,178


1,172


2,522


2,534


655


640



 

Strength*




31-3-97


1,173


2,691


649




31-3-98


1,193


2,691


657




31-3-99


1,249


2,615


660




31-3-00


1,215


2,584


653




31-3-01


1,273


2,670


668




  


As at:


Strathclyde


Tayside


Total



 

Establishment


Strength


Establishment


Strength


Establishment


Strength




31-3-91


6,954


6,792


1,034


1,047


14,043


13,811




31-3-92


6,954


6,763


1,057


1,053


14,139


13,984




31-3-93


6,954


6,768


1,079


1,097


14,205


14,095




31-3-94


6,954


6,860


1,079


1,070


14,201


14,174




31-3-95


6,954


7,014


1,085


1,091


14,209


14,323




31-3-96


7,212


7,216


1,094


1,113


14,477


14,512



 

Strength*




31-3-97


7,231


1,116


14,789




31-3-98


7,299


1,143


14,980




31-3-99


7,135


1,149


14,810




31-3-00


7,101


1,137


14,699




31-3-01


7,318


1,157


15,149




  Note:

  * Establishment levels for Scottish police forces were abolished on 1 April 1996. Decisions on staffing levels are now a matter for chief constables in consultation with police authorities within the resources available to them.

Prescription Charges

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value was of prescriptions for drugs and devices to treat asthma in each of the past five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following figures are derived from the Prescription Cost Analysis system. They give the cost of NHS prescriptions for drugs and devices to treat asthma in sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 of the British National Formulary in the last five years for which figures are available. The cost is the cost of ingredients before deduction of discount and patient charges and addition of dispensing fees.

  


Year


Cost (£)




1996-97


50,892,763




1997-98


55,263,570




1998-99


58,545,599




1999-2000


61,318,783




2000-01


63,644,056




  These data refer to prescriptions dispensed in the community and do not take into account any items dispensed by hospitals or hospital based clinics.

Prescription Charges

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the income was from prescription charges for drugs and devices to treat asthma in each of the past five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following figures are derived from the Prescription Cost Analysis system. They give the value of prescription charges collected for drugs and devices to treat asthma in sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 of the British National Formulary in the last five years for which figures are available.

  


Year


Prescription Charges Collected (£)




1996-97


1,914,303




1997-98


2,113,371




1998-99


2,341,077




1999-2000


2,739,813




2000-01


2,828,598




  These data refer to prescriptions dispensed in the community and do not take into account any items dispensed by hospitals or hospital based clinics.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a copy of any letter that it sent to organisations in order to request nominations for the 12 new Independent Assessor posts.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give any details of each organisation to which it wrote in order to request nominations for the 12 new Independent Assessor posts.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following is a copy of the letter issued on 27 June 2001:

  Dear Sir/Madam

  INDEPENDENT ASSESSOR POSTS TO OVERSEE THE PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS PROCESS IN SCOTLAND

  I am writing to seek your assistance in identifying individuals who might be considered for appointment as Independent Assessors for Public Appointments. I am also writing in similar terms to a wide range of groups and organisations throughout Scotland seeking nominations for consideration for appointment (the list at Annex A refers). It is anticipated that up to 10 appointments will be made in total from across the diverse range of Scottish society.

  The role of the Independent Assessor is to assist Scottish Ministers in the task of making effective public appointments that command public confidence and to provide an assurance that the appointment process has conformed with the principles and practices set out in the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Details of the 7 principles contained in the Commissioner’s Code are attached at Annex B for ease of reference. In short, an Assessor has to be able to provide an assurance that appointments have been made on merit after fair, open and transparent process.

  As you will be aware, in his statement to Parliament on proposed changes to public bodies and the public appointments system in Scotland on 21 June, the Minister for Finance and Local Government announced that in the future responsibility for the appointment and training of Independent Assessors would transfer to a new Scottish Commissioner for Public Appointments. However, until formal arrangements are in place to implement all the proposed changes we need to have sufficient numbers of Assessors in place to ensure that the current system continues to function.

  Ten of the Executive’s 25 Assessors are due to stand down on 30 June. Ministers have agreed that 10 new Assessors are needed to ensure that the appointments system continues to operate effectively during the period of transition ahead. The Executive is keen to ensure that these new appointments should reflect the diversity of modern Scottish society and that is why I would like to enlist your help in identifying possible candidates to carry out this role during the transition period. Thereafter it would be for the Scottish Commissioner to decide whether or not to retain the services of these Assessors.

  I hope that you will be able to assist by providing names of potential candidates for these posts. If you would like further information, a job description, person specification and application form please contact:

  The Scottish Executive

  Public Appointments Unit

  Room 318

  16 Waterloo Place

  EDINBURGH

  EH1 3DN

  Tele: 0131-244-4999, or, 0131-244-4996

  Fax: 0131-244-5077

  Email: public.appointments@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

  Website: www.scotland.gov.uk/government/publicappoint

  I look forward to hearing from you by 10 July 2001.

  ANNEX A

  INDEPENDENT ASSESSOR POSTS: LIST OF ORGANISATIONS CONSULTED

  Aberdeen Women’s Centre

  African Caribbean Women’s Association, Glasgow

  African Women’s Group, Aberdeen

  Age Concern Scotland

  Asian Action Group, Dundee

  Association of Indian Organisations

  BAHA’I Council for Scotland, Bridge of Weir

  Black and Ethnic Minority Voluntary Network, Glasgow

  Black Environment Network

  Cabinet Office

  CBI Scotland

  Central Scotland Racial Equality Council

  Centre for Managing Diversity – University of Paisley

  Centre for Racial Equality in Scotland

  Citizens Advice Scotland

  Clackmannanshire Council

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Council of British Pakistanis (Scotland)

  Dennis Canavan MSP

  Disability Rights Commission

  Disability Service Team – Edinburgh and South East Scotland

  Disability Service Team – Highlands, Islands and Grampians

  Disability Service Team, Central Scotland

  Disability Scotland

  Dundee City Council

  Dundee International Women’s Centre

  ECAS – Access to a Full Life

  Edinburgh & Lothians Racial Equality Council

  Engender

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  Ethnic Community Resource Centre, Glasgow

  Ethnic Enterprise Centre

  Ethnic Minority Enterprise Centre, Glasgow

  Ethnic Minority Training and Employment Project

  Federation of Small Businesses

  Fife Racial Equality Council

  Forum of Private Business Scotland

  Glasgow City Council

  Glasgow Women’s Library

  Grampian Racial Equality Council

  Indian Graduate Society, Glasgow

  Institute of Directors Scotland

  Institute of Personnel Development

  International Women’s Group, Dalkeith

  Jewish Community Centre

  Maxwelltown Information Centre, Dundee

  Midlothian Women’s Group

  Multi Ethnic Aberdeen Ltd

  Multicultural Welfare Project

  Network for Minority Ethnic Communities in North of Scotland

  Pakistani Media Relations Committee, Bearsden

  Pakistani Women’s Group, Aberdeen

  Parliamentary Subject Committees

  Pilton Partnership

  Racial Equality Development Unit (SCVO)

  Scottish Asian Action Committee, Glasgow

  Scottish Civic Forum

  Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party

  Scottish Consumer Council

  Scottish Council Development & Industry

  Scottish Council for Minority Rights

  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

  Scottish Engineering

  Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

  Scottish Financial Enterprise

  Scottish Green Party

  Scottish Labour Party

  Scottish Liberal Democratic Party

  Scottish National Party

  Scottish Retail Consortium

  Scottish Socialist Party

  Scottish Trades Union Congress

  Scottish Youth Parliament

  Skillnet Edinburgh

  Social Inclusion Partnerships [48]

  Society of Local Authority Lawyers & Administrators

  Soroptimist International of Falkirk

  Soroptimist International of Scotland North

  Strathclyde Chinese Association, Airdrie

  Tayside Racial Equality Council

  The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland: Church & Nation Committee

  The Mix, BBC Radio Scotland, Glasgow

  The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre

  The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland

  The Scottish Chambers of Commerce

  UNISON

  Volunteer Centre, Glasgow

  Volunteer Development Scotland

  Volunteer Development Scotland, Stirling

  West of Scotland Business Women’s Club

  West of Scotland Community Relations Council

  Wester Hailes Multicultural Welfare Project

  Workers Educational Association

  Workers Educational Association, Falkirk

  Workers Educational Association, Fife

  Workers Educational Association, Glasgow

  Workers Educational Association, Inverness

  Youthlink Scotland

  ANNEX B

  The Principles

  The Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice covers all Ministerial appointments to the boards of executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies, health bodies, public corporations and nationalised industries.

  Ministerial Responsibility

  The ultimate responsibility for appointments rests with Ministers.

  Merit

  All public appointments should be governed by the overriding principle of selection based on merit, by the well-informed choice of individuals who, through their abilities, experience and qualities, match the needs of the public bodies in question.

  Independent Scrutiny

  No appointment shall take place without first being scrutinised by a panel which must include an independent assessor.

  Equal Opportunities

  Departments should sustain programmes to promote and deliver the principles of equal opportunities.

  Probity

  Board members must be committed to the principles and values of public service and perform their duties with integrity.

  Openness and Transparency

  The principles of open Government must be applied to the appointments process, its working must be transparent and information must be provided about appointments made.

  Proportionality

  The appointments procedures need to be subject to the principles of ‘proportionality’, that is they should be appropriate for the nature of the post and the size and weight of its responsibilities.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many studies it has commissioned or carried out since 1997 into (a) the Stirling to Alloa rail link and (b) the proposed Larkhall to Milngavie rail link and how much each study cost.

Lewis Macdonald: None. However, the Scottish Executive is one of a number of organisations that is contributing to a study on the Stirling to Alloa rail link commissioned by Scottish Enterprise.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) timetabled and (b) average actual rail journey time between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh was in (i) 1961, (ii) 1971, (iii) 1981, (iv) 1991 and (v) 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dynamic loops there are on the rail line between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Falkirk and whether any additional loops would be required to permit significant improvements in the journey times through the introduction of non-stop or very limited stop trains on that route.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally. This is an operational matter for Railtrack.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how long the journey between Edinburgh and Glasgow would take using existing rolling stock if trains did not stop between Haymarket and Glasgow Queen Street stations and if the trains operated at their maximum permitted safe speeds.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally. This is an operational matter for ScotRail.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of stops presently made by trains operating between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Falkirk is consistent with the route’s categorisation as an inter-city service.

Lewis Macdonald: The calling pattern on any railway route is a commercial matter for the train operating company within the context of its contracted Passenger Service Requirements.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what technical steps would be required to introduce a non-stop or very limited stop service between Glasgow and Edinburgh on the line via (a) Falkirk and (b) Shotts.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally. This is an operational matter for Railtrack.

Roads

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20814 by Lewis Macdonald on 21 December 2001, whether any traffic calming measures were carried out on the Saltcoats stretch of the A78 trunk road along the lines of those referred to as having been carried out in Seamill, Ardrossan and Stevenston which include pedestrian refuges, nibbings, improved road markings and appropriate gateway signing.

Lewis Macdonald: These works were carried out under the previous trunk road contracts. The limited information available indicates that improved road markings were installed on High Road, Saltcoats as part of the Dalry Road Junction improvement in 1998.

Roads

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21838 by Lewis Macdonald on 28 January 2002, whether it will list the special roads on which Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR Scotland Ltd carry out litter clearing as part of their trunk road maintenance contracts.

Lewis Macdonald: The special roads in Scotland are as follows:

  A1 (Old Craighall to east of Haddington)

  A720 Edinburgh City Bypass (Old Craighall to East of Hermiston)

  A80 (Junction 4 of M80 to Old Inns Junction at Cumbernauld)

  Litter clearance is carried out by the operating companies on these routes and on motorways.

Roads (Scotland) Act 1984

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13284 by Sarah Boyack on 23 March 2001, whether it or its agents now record the number of times on which powers under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 are invoked.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive does not record this information. However, the trunk road operating companies are required to maintain records of the times that they undertake delegated functions under the powers of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

Rural Development

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it made to the Moffat Hills Wild Goat Framework Plan.

Allan Wilson: The Executive was not involved in the Moffat Hills Wild Goat Framework Plan, which was prepared by Scottish Natural Heritage.

School Meals

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration the expert panel on school meals will give to the principles of the School Meals (Scotland) Bill.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232 on 17 December 2001, which set out the remit of the expert panel.

School Meals

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20232 by Nicol Stephen on 17 December 2001, how much money was allocated to making improvements in the school meals system in each year since 1998-99 and how much will be allocated in each of the next five years.

Nicol Stephen: Resources to support provision of school meals are part of the unhypothecated funding made available to authorities in support of local services including school education. Information in the form requested is, therefore, not collected centrally.

Scottish Borders Council

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the planned withdrawal of core funding for Borders Women’s Aid, reported in The Southern Reporter on 24 January 2002, and, in light of the service this group provides to women and children who are victims of domestic violence in the Scottish Borders Council area, what action it will take to ensure that this service continues.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the proposed reduction or removal of funding to Borders Women’s Aid by Scottish Borders Council.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Local Government Spending Review 2000 provides an extra £1.2 billion in support for local government over three years – an increase in real terms of 10.5%. It is the Scottish Executive’s view that this should enable all local authorities to provide the necessary support for all women’s refuges. It is therefore the responsibility of Scottish Borders Council to allocated funding according to its priorities. The National Group on Domestic Abuse, which I chair, will be looking at funding for service provision as part of its future work programme.

Sexual Health

Mr Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE5266/2002 of 31 January 2002, whether it has any plans to invest in projects similar to the Healthy Respect project that aid efforts to promote sexual health, prevent unwanted teenage pregnancies and reduce sexually-transmitted infections.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are no immediate plans for any project similar to Healthy Respect. We keep the need for new initiatives under continuing review.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the coverage of Social Inclusion Partnership areas in Glasgow.

Ms Margaret Curran: Apart from three Social Inclusion Partnership areas in Glasgow which have made specific representations to the Executive in relation to their boundaries, there are no plans to review the coverage of Social Inclusion Partnership areas in Glasgow.

  In relation to the three areas under review at present, there is of course no guarantee that this review will lead to a change in the position.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been awarded to Social Inclusion Partnerships in 2001-02 in each parliamentary constituency in Glasgow.

Ms Margaret Curran: The boundaries of area-based Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs) are not co-terminous with those of parliamentary constituencies in Glasgow and in some cases individual Social Inclusion Partnership areas extend into a number of different constituencies. For this reason it is extremely difficult to attribute a specific amount of SIP spend to individual constituencies. There are also three thematic SIPs in Glasgow, the Big Step, Routes Out of Prostitution, and Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance whose spend is not attributable to any parliamentary constituency as they serve communities of interest rather than physical communities.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Social Inclusion Partnership projects operating in Glasgow have attracted funding from external agencies in each of the last three years.

Ms Margaret Curran: Four hundred and thirty Social Inclusion Partnership projects attracted funding from external sources from April 1999 to date.

Water Industry (Scotland) Bill

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Trade and Industry on the implications of any agreement Her Majesty's Government has entered into in relation to the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade and its effect on the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill.

Ross Finnie: The Executive has not made any such representations.

Youth Crime

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what timetable has been set for the implementation of the Action Programme to Reduce Youth Crime announced by the First Minister on 28 January 2002.

Cathy Jamieson: The Action Programme to reduce youth crime 2002 contains 24 action points and work to implement these is under way or in development. We will report on progress by the end of 2002, by which time we expect to have made significant progress.